Following Susan Lulgjuraj’s earlier coverage of the work of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), the prominent London-headquartered “nonprofit, professional association for self-publishing writers” is now taking an even more active role on behalf of the self-publishing and indie author community, petitioning “booksellers, libraries and literary festivals to Open Up To Indie Authors.”

The petition, online at Change.org, targets not just the UK book trade, but is addressed to booksellers associations worldwide—the American Booksellers Association, Australian Booksellers Association, Canadian Booksellers Association, and UK Booksellers Association—as well as libraries.

It urges these “to find ways to include self-publishing writers as a matter of priority.”

“With a target of 10,000 signatures, the petition aims to be one of the largest its kind, galvanising a rapidly expanding community of writers keen to step out from the sidelines into their rightful place in the books industry,” reads the ALLi release. As of the time of writing, on the day of its release, the petition stood at 347 signatures, with 9653 still to go.

As it stands, the petition itself is a tad short on detail in exactly how booksellers associations and libraries are supposed to open up to indie authors. However, the petition is a profile-raising device for a broad Open Up To Indie Authors campaign, just now kicking off, which will “encourage and aid literary events, festivals, prizes, reviewers, booksellers and other interested parties to find ways to include self-publishing authors in their programs, events, listings and reviews.”

A free manual, “Open Up To Indie Authors: A Guide,” will follow in due course to give further details for professionals in the book world.

“While recognising that there are challenges in incorporating author-publishers, it has become a necessity, if book stores, libraries and literary festivals and events are to be inclusive of writers and properly serve readers,” stated founder and director of ALLi Orna Ross in the release.

ALLi claims members in six continents and a rapidly growing community of indie authors. More information on the organization and its views and goals can be found here.